Gas generator



Oct. 27, 1936. E. P. GILLETTE GAS GENERATOR Fil'ed May 17, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 27, 1936. E. P. GIYLLJETTE ,4

GAS GENERATOR Filed May 17, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 27, 1936. E. P. GlLLE'l TE 2,053,437

GAS GENERATOR Filed May 17, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet3 Patented Oct. 27, 1936 GAS GENERATOR Edward P. Gillette, Toledo, out, mm; to Gillette Research Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 17, 1934, Serial No. 728,097

2 Claims. (01. 263-3) This invention relates to gas generators, but

more particularly to apparatus for burning material and'recovering the gas dissociated therefrom during the burning operation.

5 An object is to produce a new and improved gas generator which is capable of burning sizable quantities of material, such as limestone, and recovering the gas dissociated therefrom in a continuous, economical and practical manner.

10 Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear, and, for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown on the accompanying drawings, in.

which:-

' 1 Figure 1 is a transverse sectional elevation of the gas generator or kiln taken on the. line I-l of Figure 3 showing the relative arrangement of the furnaces with respect to the vertical retorts; Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional elevation of the generator taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevation of a 25 lower portion of one of the tu'besshewing the material discharge apparatus and the associated parts; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of one of the pocketed discharge rotors and its 30 housing together with the adjacent vertical tube.

The illustrated embodiment-of the inventioncomprises a gas generator in the form of a kiln for burning material, such as limestone, or other carbon dioxide containing material, dissociating 35 the gas from the material as the latter moves in a stream through vertical tubes by heat applied indirectly through the walls of the retrt.. ,As shown, the lower portion of the generatoris supported by a structural steel frame in consisting of a plurality of uprights and bracing bars and having a platform l0, and mounted on the platform is a plurality of vertical retorts or tubes H, which are elongate in cross-section, as indicated in Figure 1, and, in this instance four tubes 45 are arranged in spider-like formation radiating from an upright post or column I2 of suitable refractory material, which provides an anchor or support for securing the inner edge portions of the tubes H. The outer edge portions of the retorts II are embedded or secured in walls 13- of suitable refractory material.

As shown in Figure 1, .the walls l2 adjacent each pair of tubes extend outwardly to provide a chamber l4, and outer. wall l being closed 55 except for an opening 16 to receive the nozzle of an oil or gas burner for forcing heat toward the inside of the chamber 14 for heating the adjacent vertical walls of the retorts l I. It will be appar-' cut that coal or other fuel may be employed, if desired. In this manner it is apparent that four 5 furnaces are sufficient adequately to heat the several side walls of the retorts i I. The top wall of each furnace chamber I4 is closed by a wall H, which inclines upwardly and inwardly, as indicated on'Figure 3, the bottom of each furnace being closed by a wall I8, which is supported by a wall I!) -from the platform l0.

As indicated in Figure 3, the top walls I! of the furnace merge into an annular vertical wall IS in which is embedded and anchored the outer 15 edge portions of the tubes or retorts II. It is thus apparent that the retorts ll are properly secured in position at the inner and outer edge portlons,'leaving the intermediate portions thereof exposed to the heat generated in the furnace chambers H. The heated gases and products of combustion from the furnaces pass upwardly through fines or passages between the side walls of the retorts, it being understood that the upper ends of these passages are open to the outside. In order securely to holdthe annular upright wall I 8 in position, metal hangers 2|, spaced by I-beams 22, are provided for this purpose.

-The inside of the annular wall I9 adjacent the upper end thereof inclines inwardly, as indicated at 23, in order to secure the full benefit of the heat from the gases passing upwardly through the flues 20. As shown in Figure 3, the wall l9 extends upwardly above the inclined surface 23,. and

mounted on the upper end of this wall is a-hopper 24 to receive material, such as limestone, which flows continuously by gravity into the several retorts II. It will be understood that the material will be directed from the hopper 24 to the retorts II by suitable chutes or funnels 2| 40 through which extend pipes 24' for smoke and gases from the flues. V

The retorts i l are made up of a plurality of blocks or tiles preferably of silicon carbide, which are secured together by a suitable cement to pro- 'vide air and gas-tight joints between several blocks.

It will be observed that adjacent the outer edge portion of each of the tfles are louvers 25, which "1y pass into a chamber 21 on the outer edge portion thereof. The gas is drawn off from the lower end of the gas collecting chamber 2! through a pipe 28, which may lead to any suitable receptacle. If desired, a suction pump (not shown) may be utilized to accelerate the flow of gas from the gas collecting chamber 21.

It will be seen in Figure 3 that the retorts H extend below the furnaces I4 and terminate at the platform l. Secured to the platform iii and registering with the opening at the lower end of each retort II is a tube 29 through which the material is adapted to flow. The tube 29 extends down'wardlybelow the tube 28 and has a downwardly and laterally inclined bottom wall 30 to divert the flow of material laterally to a discharge apparatus housing 38 in which isdisposed a rotary discharge wheel 32., Covering the upper portion of the wheel 32 and forming a part of the housing 3i is a laterally extending portion 33,

which extends at substantially right angles from the tube 29 slightly above the lower end. Connected to the outer end of the portion 33 a downwardly curved apron 34 which snugly fits with afew thousandths of an inch clearance the upper portion of the wheel 32, an internal shoulder 35 being provided between these portions which is rearwardly inclined, as indicated in Figure 5. It will also be noted that the bottom wall 36 of the housing 3! is shaped snugly to embrace the lower portion of the discharge wheel 32,1eaving a very slight clearance with the wheel.

Formed in the wheel or rotor 32 is a plurality of pockets 3! which extend horizontally across the face of the rotor, in this instance three pockets being provided. The pockets 3! are relatively deep with the sides thereof tapering slightly and with the mouth 38 of each pocket facing in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the rotor 32 and the bottom 38 thereof inclined upwardly when the pocket is disposed in materialreceiving position. The purpose of this arrangement is to enable each pocket to be partially filled when in receiving position, such as the pocket A in Figure 5. As the rotor turns in a clockwise direction (Figure some of the material in the pocket drops therefrom so that when the pocket is in'position to pass the shoulder 35 with the pocket moving toward a verticaly disposed position the material can drop into the bottom portion of the pocket, leaving the mouth free of material, as indicated in the pocket B of Figure 5.

This is found to be of outstanding importance in that it militates against material wedging between the rotor and housing and interfering with the free turning movement thereof and enabling the use of a less powerful motor to drive the rotor. By obviating the shearing action of the material between the housing and rotor, it makes possible the use of much lighter material and greatly reduces the wear of the parts. It will be apparent that a rotor of this character is not only of importance in enabling the use of a relatively simple motor to operate, but, in addition, an effective seal is provided by the material to prevent to a large extent the ingress of air into the retorts.

It is obvious that the admission of air. to the retorts is objectionable in that it would prevent the obtaining of gas of the desired purity.

. the furnace flame and fuel gases.

aosaesr Each rotor is mounted on a shaft 40 on which an arm M is free to oscillate. The arm 6! is connected by a rod 42 to an eccentric 43, which is driven by a motor 64 to impart rocking movements to the arm M. On the arm 4! is pawl 55, which recurrently meshes with teeth $6 on a ratchet wheel fixed for rotation with the rotor 32. In this manner it is apparent that turning movement is imparted positively to the rotors 32 at a relatively slow speed accurately controlled by an adjustable sleeve 61, which controls the number of teeth engaged by the pawl 45.

Although the embodiment of the invention which is herein shown and described, is concerned with the burning or heating of limestone and the dissociation of carbon dioxide, the invention is not'limited thereto because the generator can be used to advantage in treating other material and recovering other gases which are given ofi. Furthermore, the apparatus can be used for heating or drying. materials where it is disadvantageous to have them contact directly with For example, limestone can be calcined and the calcium oxide recovered without collecting the gas, if desired, and this would be desirable as compared with many methods for burning comminuted or grannular limestone which cannot be readily burned in the ordinary vertical kiln in view of objectionable caking or fusing at high temperatures tending to clog and shut ofi the draft.

It is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operation may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A gas generator comprising a vertically disposed support, a plurality of tubes fixed at their inner edge portions to said support and arranged radially thereof, means to introduce material to the upper ends of said tubes, means providing gas chambers disposed laterally of the material stream through said tubes for receiving gas dissociated from the material during its passage through the tubes, means to discharge material from the lower ends of said tubes, a furnace between each pair of adjacent tubes for heating the walls thereof, and a casing common to the several tubes and providing dues for the products of combustion of said furnaces.

2. A gas generator comprising a vertically disposed column, a plurality of upright tubes arranged in equidistantly spaced relation, said tubes being elongate in cross section and having one narrow side of each tube fixed to said column, means providing a gas passageway along the opposite narrow sides of each tube, openings from the tube into the passageway, an enlarged furnace housing between each adjacent pair of tubes extending laterally from the lower portion thereof to enable heat to be transmitted from one 

